Another hijacking of Orthodox Church workers in Chechnya

ANOTHER HIJACKING OF ORTHODOX CHURCH WORKERS IN CHECHNYA

According to reports coming from Grozny, a group of armed people hijacked on July 17 the rector of the local Church of St. Archangel Michael, Hieromonk Zechariah, who had come for pastoral service in Chechnya about three months ago. He was kidnapped together with the acting warden of the parish in Grozny, Yakov V. Ryaschin, and another church worker.

Hieromonk Zechariah (his secular name Vasily V. Yampolsky) was born in 1968 in Karachayevo-Cherkessia. Before coming to Grozny, he serves as a pastor in the diocese of Armavir. Yakov Ryaschin, 26, is Grozny born; for several years he has been responsible for the church property and economic activity of the Parish of St. Archangel Michael.

As many as eight Orthodox clergymen have fallen victim to criminal hijackers in recent years. The fate of the two of them, Father Anatoly Chistousov and Father Peter Sukhonosov, is still unknown.

Now again there is no Orthodox priest left in the Republic of Chechnya to give pastoral guidance to the Orthodox faithful living there.

In his telegram to Bishop Alexander of Baku and the Caspian Region, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia says:

“With pain I learnt about the kidnapping of the rector of the Church of St. Archangel Michael in the city of Grozny, Hieromonk Zechariah Yampolsky, the acting warden of the church, Yakov Ryaschin, and one more church worker.

I am deeply shocked by this barbarous crime. The peaceful relations among the people in the North Caucasus have been challenged once again.

Unfortunately, the outrage of this kind has not been committed for the first time, and this rouses our special concern. The church life of Orthodox Christians in the Republic of Chechnya has become extremely difficult, as the law-enforcement agencies seem to be unable to put an end to armed attacks targeted routinely against Orthodox clergymen.

I feel compassion for the flock of the parish in Grozny. I ask them to be steadfast in their faith and courage in the face of new trials. I pray for the release of the kidnapped. May the Lord take care of the Orthodox faithful in Chechnya deprived today of pastoral care.”